In the immediate aftermath of UEFA’s eye watering sanctions against Manchester City, in respect of FFP misdeeds, Martin Samuel has written a piece loaded with insinuation and inference but light on evidence for this morning’s Daily Mail.
I’ve never quite bought into the whole conspiracy theory business in respect of football; be it match fixing, draw rigging or financial blind eyes.
That said, I do tend to take the view shared by Mr Bridger to Camp Freddie in the Italian Job (1969) “Camp Freddie, everybody in the World is bent!” This is merely a general world view cynicism, and not to be confused with the wild imaginings of some soccer themed Spectre type operation.
So the floodlights being switched off in some Copa America Cup game, thanks to the nefarious plotting of a Malaysian betting syndicate – yes. Liverpool meeting Sidcup Town in the FA cup final – no.
It’s not unfair comment that some Spurs fans, faced with the seemingly endless profligacy of their Premier League rivals (not a difficult achievement with Daniel Levy at the Tottingham helm) had managed to convince themselves that dark forces were at play in the game.
Which coincidentally enough, was the precise allegation made by Richard Keys when he lost his job at Sky Sports. And just as with Keys, there were no dark forces at all. He and his pal Andy Gray were simply being exposed for being a pair of seedy bigots – which video and audio evidence proved.
Martin Samuel may have compelling evidence that proves beyond all doubt that City were part of some footballing Bilderberg Group, but until he publishes it, today is a good day for football, whether one instinctively distrusts UEFA or not.
A two-season ban from participating in the Champions League, plus a fine of some £24.9million is hardly the slap on the wrist one might expect from a “protection racket” wanting to be seen to admonish one of its own.
Thankfully, there is a new breed of football journalism gently seeping into the mainstream. Where insights, analysis, and opinion are not formed in second rate curry houses after 13 pints of lager. I’d cite The Athletic in my summing up.
Manchester City have cheated, and for the first time in my 40-odd years of devoutly watching football, the punishment appears to fit the crime. This is not a time for celebration, but it might be a moment to pause and at least acknowledge that sanity has prevailed, if nothing else.
As for Tottenham, it is improbable we’ll ever get involved in such skulduggery, the intrinsic desire to spend simply isn’t there.
Oh.
You’re welcome, facts are always good things to have on board when making points about stuff…
I forgot about that. Thanks for reminding me.
Not bad,many thanks Eddie.
Fighting against half the spend of a club of Southampton’s size? ‘Massive Spurs’ is it? Ok then…
OK perhaps that explains things and Ziyteck was in the last 6 months of his contract.Thanks.
Home to Norwich Mar.4th.
Hi folks I’m away in the Philipinnes and well out of touch after we beat Southampton who have we got in the next round?
No they don’t have to be made in jan – jan is the earliest they can be finalised. The rule is around registration of player
The evil chairman only wants more success so he can make more money and invest it back into the club – so he can make more success and more money!
🤣👏 I was thinking just that!
I agree with this article. I think the punishment fits the crime. It is not a slap on the wrist and will certainly serve as a deterrent to anyone considering circumventing the rules in future. That’s the purpose of the ban. Let’s not get too sanctimonious about what City have actually done – they’ve bent the rules and hidden it, but their crime is only investing for success in their team – something we’d dearly love to see here. The ban will hurt them, make no mistake. Pep will be leaving with a few players no doubt. We could even catch them next year – it’s not beyond possibility!
Potentially happy days for the FANS too mate🌚
I understand about pre contracts,but they still have to be made in January.I’m not sure what Ziyeck’s contract situation was.I’m trying to think of a similar situation,but none springs to mind.
I don’t think there are restrictions on this sort of arrangement Eddie. Since he’s not being registered for the remainder of the season that’s all that really matters. Players at the ends of their contract are also free to arrange future transfers. There are no regulations for consenting parties to make a future arrangement.
Ok man. Still fighting against it I see. enjoy
I posted this on an earlier blog,it’s sort of on the same topic.
Can somebody explain to me how Chelsea can negotiate the transfer of
Ziyeck outside the window.Surely they could have bought him last month
and loaned him straight back.I’ve seen no explanation for this seeming
operating outside the rules.Having had the ban overturned you would have
expected Lampard to do some business.
UEFA is all about the money.The City fine is insignificant in reality and looks more like a face-saving exercise by UEFA, without wanting to upset anyone too much. Just in case the “elite” clubs jog on and set up their own league.
UEFA punish Man C with a 2 year sanction and large fine for flouting FFP.
ENIC punish fans by increasing ticket prices for next season above inflation rate and raking in indecent amounts of cash this season.
Who were the crooks again?
And spend half of what Southampton spend annually on their team? 😂
Could be right there, UEFA aren’t happy and they have to demonstrate that, but as you say it’ll probably get reduced. More sabre-rattling than coming down hard.
Thing is, if ir ends up being one season out of Europe (as we expect) but they remain close to the top of the league and have shoehorned all this money into the operation illegally but are now a major force, will they just take a view on it? Will they be that bothered, it’s mission accomplished.
If you look at how Saracens have been dealt with by the RFU this is a fairly pathetic punishment. Unless you do something that actually reduces Citeh’s financial clout in real terms it achieves nothing.
HH says it fits the crime, I don’t feel it’s nearly enough. Fiddle the books and cheat and you remain the force that cheating helped create then this isn’t a punishment at all…
Do we still keep 4 Champions League places? Potentially happy days for Levy if so. Finishing 5th – its just like winning a trophy! Perfect justification for the season ticket price rise.
A pretty damning piece in the Guardian explains why they have got punished, I think UEFA have given citeh two years knowing they will appeal and will then reduce it to one.
*to🌚
TOTTENHAM COME FE CONQUER. (legally).
Not just cheating to stockpile trophies and sportswash autocracy but sneering contempt in all their correspondence with UEFA. Makes you wonder what a club needs to do to earn a permanent ban from UEFA competitions -‘ or any sanction at all from the Premier League.
LEVY IN🌚
I believe they will Win their appeal.